Download What Do Editorial Cartoons about the 21st United

Final paper in MA degree in Environment and Natural Resources
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What Do Editorial Cartoons about the 21st United Nations
Conference on Climate Change Have in Common?
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Iaroslava Kutsai
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Supervisor: Þorbjörn Broddason, Professor in Sociology
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May 2016
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University of Iceland
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Social and Human Sciences
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Content
Introduction
The COP21 as Expectations versus Reality
Visualizing the Invisible
Humor as the Way to Sustain the Unsustainable
Case Study: What Do Editorial Cartoons about the 21st United Nations Conference on Climate Change
Have in Common?
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
References
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Introduction
French philosopher Henri Bergson (1900) defined humans as “animals that laugh.”1 As people
who live in a globalized world with an incredibly intensive circulation of information, we should also
not forget that humor—especially in the form of satire—can become a weapon. Not only is it able to
bestow pleasure and relief on us, but also cause confrontation. The first terrorist attack on satirical
newspaper Charlie Hebdo that took place in Paris in the beginning of 2015 was evidence of this. It
restarted a discussion on whether such a form of expression should have restrictions. The message
behind the movement “Je suis Charlie” that appeared right after the tragedy, perhaps, best could be
expressed in the words by Noam Chomsky: “If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we
despise, we don't believe in it at all” (Bracken, 1994).2
In the end of November 2015, a few weeks after the second bloodshed, the capital of France,
with substantially increased security, welcomed more than 38,000 people from all over the world in Le
Bourget to talk about another threat for human security, way more complex than ISIS as it is
omnipresent.
Another cartoon become a controversy. An artist called Bill Leak drew a poor Indian family
chopping solar panels that were provided as aid by the UN. This image, which was published in the
Australian newspaper, caused stark criticism and was called by many people racist.
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2
“Le rire. Essai sur la signification du comique” — p. 10.
“Words are not deeds” — p. 124.
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The story behind this: India—a developing country—has decided to raise its renewable energy
capacity. And during the COP21 its Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged developed countries to provide
fundings for the installation of solar technologies.
The butt of satire on the image above is clear. Many satirists, however, stick to the principle of
making fun of the strong and powerful rather than weak and destitute. But as cartoonist Patricio
Fernandez from The Clinic (Chile) puts it, one should not try to censor satirist as his role is not to please
the public: “Satire is a sceptic. It’s a bad boy. Not sweet, and admirable, and loving, but the opposite. It
sees the worst in human beings and relishes our weaknesses and frailties.”3 Satire reminds us that we are
all mortal and helps to prevent the demonization of “villains,” as only regarded as equals—i.e. not
immune from humorous interpretation of their role and significance—they can be understood and
soberly criticized.
We decided to look at what Indian satirists as well as satirists from other countries that are
among the key players in negotiations on climate change have turned into an object of derision and
mockery. Our case study was based on the premise that antiheroes in climate change debate start
obtaining their real embodiment.
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3
#Je suis Charlie—are you? The Charlie Hebdo story seen through the eyes of cartoonists from around the world. 25 Jan
2015. Web: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2015/01/suis-charlie-150124235116941.html.
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The COP21 as Expectations versus Reality
Despite being met by independent observers with moderate skepticism—as, traditionally, there
are a great many disparities between what ought to be solutions and how they are applied, providing a
solid foundation for humor—the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)4 was referred to as a story of hope5. “We are all
like this,” said UN Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio, with his fingers crossed, to UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon.
This time every country involved in negotiations had homework to do before appearing in the
inner sanctum of decision-making: to come up with its own Intended Nationally Determined
Contribution (INDC)—the mechanism through which the countries submit their commitments for the
post-2020 period in mitigation, and voluntarily—in adaptation.
Not long before the conference, the Executive Secretary of the Framework, Christiana Figueres,
reassured the media that the framework will succeed because there is no other choice, as “a
decarbonized world is now irreversible, irrefutable.”6 She called it the “first time the world economy is
transformed intentionally”7. Earlier, during the meeting in Doha in 2012, she acknowledged,
nonetheless, that even though the emissions cuts obligations under the Phase II commitment period of
the Kyoto Protocol were higher than in the Phase I, the gap between the actions of countries and science
was ever increasing. From the beginning, the summit’s overarching goal—to encourage all the 196
Parties to achieve a general and binding agreement on the reduction of GHG to keep the temperature
increase below 2°C—seemed too ambitious.
The previous milestone—COP15, or Copenhagen 2009—was an illustration of how negotiations
should not be arranged: not only did it end with no real political statement, vague pledges on behalf of
This international regime aims at “stabilization of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations—carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, sulphur hexafluoride—in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the
climate system” (Article 2) “for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind, on the basis of equity and in
accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” (Article 3).
5 The Guardian. A story of hope: the Guardian launches phase II of its climate change campaign. 5 October 2015. Web: http://
www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/05/a-story-of-hope-the-guardian-launches-phase-two-of-its-climate-changecampaign.
6 The Reuters. World has no choice but to decarbonize—UN climate chief. 26 May 2015. Web: http://uk.reuters.com/article/
climate-change-carbon-idUKL5N0YH3E320150526.
7 UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe. Figueres: First time the world economy is transformed intentionally.
3 February 2015. Web: http://www.unric.org/en/latest-un-buzz/29623-figueres-first-time-the-world-economy-is-transformedintentionally.
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countries who bear the main responsibility for speeding up global warming, but also a scandal over the
US delegation that was caught spying. It turned from “Hopenhagen” to “Brokenhagen” (Eide, Kunelius,
Kumpu, 2010).8 But even though it was a fiasco from the diplomatic perspective, the media coverage of
the subject peaked the year after (the figure below tracks the period from 2004):9
The previous year gave birth to quite a number of precedents that foreshadow a paradigm shift,
for which there is a need when “the first tradition is felt to have gone badly astray” (Kuhn, 1970);10 the
world starts realizing—not only on secular but on levels of faith, values and beliefs—that the progress
cannot occur by turning a blind eye to the state of natural resources.
In June 2015, Pope Francis warned the powers that be that they will answer to God if they don’t
take care of environmental justice. In his encyclical—180-page intervention in the climate change
debate—he introduces the term ecological sin, claiming that “the ecological crisis is essentially a
spiritual problem,” thus “the Church must introduce in its teaching about sin, the sin against the
environment,”11 which is a revolutionary rethinking of Christianity’s Dominion thesis (Genesis 1: 26,
28: «And God blessed [Adam and Eve], and God said unto them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and
replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
8
“Global Climate, Local Journalism. A Transnational Study of How Media Make Sense of Climate Summit” — p. 21.
McAllister, L., Nacu-Schmidt, A., Andrews, K., Boykoff, M., Daly, M., Gifford, L., and Luedecke, G. (2016) World
Newspaper Coverage of Climate Change or Global Warming, 2004—2016. Center for Science and Technology Policy
Research, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado. Web: http://
sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/media_coverage.
10 “The Structure of Scientific Revolution” — p. 98.
11 America. History is made as Pope Francis’ encyclical is presented in Vatican. 18 June 2015. Web: http://
americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/history-made-pope-francis-encyclical-presented-vatican.
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air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”») that is sometimes regarded as the primary
historical cause of the contemporary ecological crisis (White, 1967).12 It is an important and with-thetimes message for at least more than two billion adherents of the Christian Church.
Religious institutions join environmental, educational, socio-political groups and nongovernmental organizations in their attempts to boost the fossil fuel divestment movement, which
already has hundreds of partners and allies.13 Propelled by 350.org, led by Bill McKibben, it is steadily
gaining momentum. In 43 countries, more than 400 organizations, with a collective worth of 2.6 trillion
USD, have made commitments to move their investments out of coal, oil, and gas companies.14
(According to the recent IPCC report, fossil fuel industrial processes comprise 65% of global emissions
of carbon dioxide).15
The Guardian Media Group reported about its “hard-nosed business decision” to sell all of the
fossil fuel assets in its 800-million GBP investment fund—the largest divestment so far.16
Some important steps in this direction have been made by the main emitters at the highest level.
After banning the Keystone Pipeline Project, the US laid out a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
in the range of 26—28% below 2005 levels by 2025;17 in response to that China announced its intent to
peak carbon dioxide emissions around 2030 and to double its share of zero-carbon energy to 20%.18
Notably, the city of Copenhagen, which bears the bitter memory of failed 2009 negotiations,
promises to become the world’s first carbon neutral capital by 2025.19
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France contributed a lot of resources to make the two-week negotiations in Paris as fruitful as
possible in a way that would bring about advancements in their energy sector through enforcing
restrictions towards the extraction and utilization of fossil fuels. If everyone agrees to contribute to
12
“The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis” — pp. 1203—1207.
350.org’s official website: http://350.org.
14 Global Power Shift official website: http://globalpowershift.org.
15 IPCC official website: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg3.
16 The Guardian. Guardian Media Group to divest its £800m fund from fossil fuels. 1 April 2015. Web: http://
www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/01/guardian-media-group-to-divest-its-800m-fund-from-fossil-fuels.
17 The New York Times. Senate fails to override Obama’s Keystone Pipeline veto. 4 March 2015. Web: http://
www.nytimes.com/2015/03/05/us/senate-fails-to-override-obamas-keystone-pipeline-veto.html?_r=0.
18 The Guardian. China makes carbon pledge ahead of Paris climate change summit. 30 June 2015. Web: http://
www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/30/china-carbon-emissions-2030-premier-li-keqiang-un-paris-climate-changesummit.
19 The official website of Denmark: Copenhagen: http://denmark.dk/en/green-living/copenhagen.
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emission cuts (the developing countries don’t mind if the developed countries provide them with
support), why does it turn out to be so complicated to make the agreement binding?
One of the major admonitions from environmental groups is that the power of multinational
corporations that make their profits out of fossil fuels exceeds the power of governments, and thus is a
main determinant in the process of transformation. Representatives of the industries insist that they
contribute to the nations’ prosperity by creating jobs and speeding up economic growth, which is a
universally accepted indicator of countries’ development (Bhutan, with its Global Gross National
Happiness Index,20 is one famous exception), albeit a statistic is not necessarily reflecting their citizens’
well-being.
Five of the largest European civil society organizations—Aitec, Attac France, Corporate Europe
Observatory, Observatoire des multinationales and Transnational Institute—provide evidence in support
of the criticism that the conference in Paris became a meeting point for numerous lobbyists of big
industries, which are among the main polluters, and some of them were even among the official
sponsors of the COP21.21
As the “sinking island countries”, most threatened by the sea level rise, whose communities
constitute some 5% of the global population,22 persevered with their appeal to the developed countries
for applying stricter measures, by the end of negotiations the framework established a new goal: to set
the limit of 2°С even lower—to 1.5°С, since 2°С temperature rise can have disastrous impacts on the
livelihoods of these small nations. However, all the INDCs in total, lead to a best case scenario of 3°С
temperature increase.
It might seem that this kind of effort to come up with effective and optimal solutions that would
satisfy all the negotiators through hours of talks and trade-offs is as desperate and deceptive as Achilles’s
efforts to outrun the tortoise. But even though the measures didn’t go far enough, the final agreement is
a crucial message to business, investors and communities that fossil fuels will soon become a ‘mauvais
ton.’ While the Kyoto Protocol obliged a number of rich countries to cut their marginal emissions, the
recently signed deal applies to all the Parties. Albeit there will be no legal obligation for countries to cut
20
Gross National Happiness’ official website: http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com.
Lobby Planet Paris. A guide to corporate COP21. Info on key climate criminals; Maps of lobbying hotspots; Section on
COP21 sponsors. Published by Aitec, Attac France, Corporate Europe Observatory, Observatoire des multinationales,
Transnational Institute. November 2015. Web: http://corporateeurope.org/cop21.
22 The Alliance of Small Island States’ official website: http://aosis.org.
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emissions, the agreement includes a five-yearly global stocktake and a review of mechanisms to
evaluate each country’s contributions.
When judging the success of the new deal, economist Lord Stern named it the beginning of
acceleration “along the path towards low-carbon economic growth.”23 As Alain Guillemoles, economic
observer for French national newspaper La Croix, pointed out during the COP21, there are quite a few of
companies that are switching to innovations associated with renewable energy. “Companies like
Schneider Electric, Engine, Bolloré are doing this not because they want to make the world better,” he
says, “but simply because climate change is a market for them.”
French President François Hollande has called the document “a major leap of mankind.” From
now on the countries take responsibility for reducing emissions and raising each year by 2020 100
billion USD to support poor countries in their attempt to adapt their economies to new conditions. Also,
they established a new goal of reaching zero net emissions by the end of this century.
“Can we live within this doughnut? (see
image on the left)” asks decision-makers Kate
Raworth (2012), an economist focusing on food
security issues. By this quirky metaphor she brings
together in a circle 11 dimensions of the social
foundation in concert with nine planetary boundaries
set up by the Stockholm Resilience Centre (the
ceiling for at least three of them—climate change,
nitrogen use, biodiversity loss—has already been
crossed) (Rockström and al., 2009).24 Economic
growth, she claims, should be regarded with respect
to ecological limits, while social and environmental
stresses should cease to be accounted and labeled as
economic externalities.25
23
The Guardian. World Bank president celebrates “game changer” Paris talks. 13 December 2015. Web: http://
www.theguardian.com/business/2015/dec/13/world-bank-president-celebrates-game-changer-paris-talks.
24 “Planetary Boundaries: Exploring the Safe Operating Space for Humanity. Ecology and Society” — pp. 8—9.
25 “A Safe and Just Space for Humanity. Oxfam Discussion Paper” — p. 8.
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Ideals, promoted by the aforementioned framework, which are at the core of every COP, are
cosmopolitan, as they encourage every one of us to consider our own welfare in context: what is the cost
of our comfort in relation to the well-being of people in other parts of the globe? These ideals encourage
us to acknowledge the connections between our activities and their consequences and take responsibility
for our choices. Climate change is a chance and incentive to enhance environmental justice. So can what
we witnessed during the COPs be regarded as the path towards “the end of history,” characterized by
universalization of Western liberal democracies, where an ultimate goal of man is “to be recognized as a
human being, that is, as being with a certain worth of dignity” (Fukuyama, 1992)?26 When armed with
this “contagious optimism,” it is necessary to not neglect and underestimate the scale and the horror of
human suffering (Derrida, 1994).27 Since these ideals are in constant tension with what is known as the
paradox of globalization: states that are supposed to accept global governance are more preoccupied
with their own performance; their measure of progress remains largely national and local (Karns,
2010).28 A golden billion of the world’s population—that is, developed countries—exploit the lion's
share of all the richest deposits of planetary resources; developed countries consider undeveloped
nations a raw material appendage area for dumping their toxic waste and as a factory of cheap labor
(Kara-Murza, 2000).29 As Naomi Klein (2000) eloquently explained, this is not financial self-interest
that is a novelty—business, she wrote, is nothing new—but the outreach and scope of mega-corporations
that represent it and, what is more, media empires at their disposal: “The media moguls [such as as
Rupert Murdoch, Michael Eisner, Martin Scorsese and Chris Patten] claimed that their cultural products
would carry the torch of freedom to authoritarian regimes… [B]ut it seems that it may be the torch of
authoritarianism that is being carried by those most determined to go global.”30
The meta-narrative of the debate is still in the process of formation. The New Yorker’s writer,
Jonathan Franzen, described climate change as a relatively palatable political culprit: “Climate change is
everyone’s fault—in other words, no one’s. We can all feel good about deploring it.”31 In the next
chapter we will try to examine this statement by looking at climate change as a media phenomenon and
see what exactly makes it seem a wicked problem.
26
“The End of History and the Last Man” — p. 20.
“Specters of Marx: State of the Debt, the Work of Mourning and the New International” — p. 124.
28 “International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance” — pp. 23, 27—28, 50.
29 “Mind Manipulations” — p. 239.
30 “No Logo” — p. 185.
31 The New Yorker. Carbon capture. 6 April 2015. Web: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/04/06/carbon-capture.
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Visualizing the Invisible
The Earth has already experienced changes of climate: in the last two millennia, it has been
through the Medieval Warm Period (ca. 950—1250) and the Little Ice Age (ca. 1300—1850) (Mann et
al., 2009; Matthews & Briffa, 2005).32 During the thaw, the Norse had established their settlements in
Greenland, but since their life started becoming more severe they perished, leaving the island for Inuits
who somehow managed to pull through (Arnold, 2010).33 Unlike previous changes of climate, with their
dramatic twists and turns, generally regarded as natural fluctuations of temperature, climate change is
directly or indirectly attributed to human activity (Diamond, 2006).34 Catalyzed by expansive economic
growth, the current change of climate—accompanied by rising seas, depletion of freshwater,
desertification, and more frequent and disruptive natural catastrophes—gives a prod to humanity to
develop new strategies and tactics in order to adopt, survive, and then update the agenda.
As public opinion is significantly shaped by the media—both by addressing different aspects of
the issue, analyzing and discussing them as well as paying limited attention or no attention at all—
climate change should be throughly considered as a media phenomenon. To come up with some sort of
collective public discourse—climate gestalt (Boykoff et al., 2015),35 it is important to note discourses
that extend to wider realms and those that are not present (Derrida, 1978).36 The “selectiveness” of the
media is often a reflection of their owners’ beliefs, tastes and preferences: while some messages
produced by climate science experts are well-articulated, others are omitted, left obscure, or simply
silenced. But even benevolent efforts to disseminate the information as much as possible can be barely
helpful in terms of raising public awareness, as people understand it according to their existing worldviews and attitudes rather than change them because the information inclines them to do so (Whitmarsh,
2011).37
As a media phenomenon, climate change is of a very peculiar type. It is a long-lasting—in terms
of human life—and complex process. And since it does not sound as something personal, to make it
32
“Global Signatures and Dynamical Origins of the Little Ice Age and Medieval Climate Anomaly” — pp. 1256—1260;
“The 'Little Ice Age': re-evaluation of an evolving concept” — pp. 17—36.
33 “Cold Did in the Norse” — p. 9.
34 “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” — p. 22.
35 “Communicating in the Anthropocene. The Cultural Politics of Climate Change News Coverage around the World” — pp.
221—228.
36 “Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences” — pp. 278—293.
37 “Skepticism and Uncertainty about Climate Change: Dimensions, Determinants and Change over Time” — pp. 690—700.
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newsworthy, the message has to be negative and unexpected but nevertheless meet the requirements of a
mental pre-image—to be comprehensive and refer to a group the readers identify themselves with,
because “when something positive happens it is more likely to be attributed to people, whereas
something attributed to non-people will have to be negative to hit the news. In a sense this may also be
seen as a reflection of the dominant idea of man as the maker of his own progress against the forces of
nature that tend to inundate him with floods, shake him to pieces with earthquakes, etc.” (Galtung &
Holmboe Ruge, 1965).38
Is climate change a threat that humanity cannot avoid or a challenge that requires a set of
responses on various different levels? Popular media have not seemed to address this question (Boykoff,
2011)39 and have been rather dragging with another one, more basic: is there such a thing as humaninduced climate change?
According to the survey conducted by Polling Report in 2008, 47% of Americans thought
climate scientists agreed that anthropocene is the major cause of the warming, whereas 53% of them did
not think that the consensus had yet been reached. Meanwhile the poll conducted by the University of
Illinois, Chicago, reveled that the minority was right: 97.4% of climate scientists answered yes to the
question (Doran & Zimmerman,
2009).40 This poll illustrates how the
very standards of reporting can lead to
ill-interpretation. An attempt to maintain
the balance of opinions—human
activity has to do with global warming
versus human activity has nothing to do
with global warming—tend to be
fulfilled without taking into account the
examination of the scientific consensus
on the matter, expressed in a percentage,
of which at the end of the day the
38
“The Structure of Foreign News” — pp. 64—91.
“Who Speaks for Climate? Making Sense of Mass Media Reporting on Climate Change” — p. 240.
40 “Examining the Scientific Consensus on Climate Change” — pp. 21—22.
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audience might not know:41
Anthony Leiserowitz, the director of the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication,
defines climate change as the worst problem to fit with the human mind, partially because the processes
involved that are supposed to be perceived as disturbing are invisible.42 His recent study on the role
discrete emotions play in public climate change policy preferences refutes the earlier
prevailing presumption that to frighten the public is the best way to make it concerned about a problem.
The research demonstrates that fear appeals usually are ineffective or even counterproductive. It is
suggested that the single strongest stimulation that switches the audiences's environmental
consciousness is worry (Smith & Leiserowitz, 2014).43
With the coverage of climate summits, reporting has to go beyond, to transcend geopolitical
limitations the way modern nation states try to for the sake of the global public good: “We know that
journalism has borrowed its epistemological perspective and ideals from modern science, claiming to
talk either in the name of (fairly naïve or technical) objectivity or at least in the name of organized
skepticism to the existing authorities of knowledge” (Eide, & Kunelius, 2012). These media scholars
who conduct a continuous research of such summit journalism warn about what might go awry with the
emotive images: “As such, they are successfully adhering to journalistic doxa, emphasizing conflict,
disaster, and crisis; but for the same reason they may be part of a ‘cry wolf’—or alarmism—series of
future scenarios communicates—even if the future is indeed alarming” (Eide, & Kunelius, 2012).44
Lippmann (1921) emphasized the importance of stereotypes: “Whatever we recognize as familiar
we tend, if we are not very careful, to visualize with the aid of images already in our mind.” He stressed
that human qualities are abstract, obscure, and fluctuating, and that they need therefore to find their
embodiment in physical metaphors;45 Pörksen (1997) dubbed them visiotypes, meaning “globally
effective” signs.46 This is a task, in particular, for cartoonists whose craft relies on those widely known
representations.
41
The Guardian. Why we need to talk about the scientific consensus on climate change. 20 November 2014. Web: http://
www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2014/nov/20/why-we-need-to-talk-about-scientificconsensus-on-climate-change.
42 Grist. What’s the best way to communicate about climate change? This expert offers some insights. 17 September 2015.
Web: http://grist.org/climate-energy/whats-the-best-way-to-communicate-about-climate-change-this-expert-offers-someinsights/.
43 “The Role of Emotion in Global Warming Policy Support and Opposition” — pp. 937—948.
44 “Media Meets Climate. The Global Challenge for Journalism” — p. 16.
45 “Public Opinion” — pp. 78, 105—106.
46 “Weltmarkt der Bilder: Eine Philosophie der Visiotype” — p. 27.
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Humor as the Way to Sustain the Unsustainable
In the democratic world, environmental and health risks and attempts to conceal them are central
to politics and also the subject of open satire (Neal & Davies, 1998).47
Though the question “What is funny?” proved to be a serious one, sociologist Christie Davies
(2011), whose works are sometimes referred to as state-of-the-art in humor research, reckons that jokes
are “entertainment only, a mere laughing matter” and that any attempt to ascribe political and societal
transformations to them is speculative. He quotes a former president of the Pennsylvania Bar
Association, John Carpenter (1990), opening for the prosecution of lawyer jokes that became extremely
popular in the US in the 1980s and made many lawyers feel uncomfortable as allegedly undermining
their social position: “What profession is more disciplined or has a higher standard of ethics? What body
of people has done more to craft and sustain civilization and the laws by which we live? This is truly a
great and honorable profession. Yet we stand by and watch other people make fun of it and us and, in the
spirit of trying to be ‘good sports,’ we even join in the self-abuse process—laughing with them and
topping their latest lawyer bash with our own…” Davies argues that in spite of the fact that many
lawyers take these jokes as a personal offense, there is no actual evidence that lawyers in general have
been harmed by them. “Why should we humor the humorless by outlawing jokes?” he asks and adds,
“[J]okes belong to people… Jokes are democracy.”48 He also maintains that in the time when Britain
was a constitutional monarchy and their society was unequal, humor, especially in the form of a
caricature, was an attribute of “British Liberty”—which would become the prototype for American
liberty juxtaposed to Continental absolutism—so much invigorated by naughty images produced by, for
example, Scottish painter Isaac Cruikshank and English printmaker James Gillray, ridiculing wealthy
and mighty monarchs and aristocrats.
Freud claimed that with parody, travesty, and unmasking as their practical counterpart, caricature
is “against people and objects which lay claim to authority and respect, which are in some sense
sublime.” He cited Theodor Lipps: “If it [what is ugly] is concealed, it must be uncovered in the light of
the comic way of looking at things; if it is noticed only a little or scarcely at all, it must be brought
47
48
“The corporations under siege”
“Jokes and targets” — pp. 208—209, 211, 267.
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forward and made obvious, so that it lies clear and open to the light of day… In this way caricature
comes about.”49
Caricatures, of course, are very much determined by the time and place where they have been
created and published, though the themes they express are usually universal and in a way transcend the
context they seem to be locked in. As The Newspaper In Education eloquently puts it, “because of their
editorial nature and mass appeal, cartoons provide a wealth of information about public sentiment and
opinion, information often missing in scholarly accounts of historical events.”50
J.Y.T. Greig (1969) encourages us to laugh at power, as it is the way to show that what appeared
to be fixed and oppressive is but the emperor’s new clothes. “If [laughter] testifies to the primitive
nature of man, it testifies also to his power of controlling this primitive nature in the service of a social
purpose. Laughter is like the passage of Janus. It has two doors, opening, the one towards the darkling
past, and the other towards the brightening future of mankind.”51 He points out that nearly all comic
theorists are comic monists, which means that they agree that there must be one universal cause for
laughter, though he recapped that “no single formula for laughter has yet stood the test of prolonged
criticism.”52
Some psychologists who study human emotions suggest that, together with romantic attachment,
humor rests on the delicate boundary between disgust and pleasure. Lewis, Haviland-Jones, Feldman
Barrett (2010) elicit: “Given that the human body is a repository of disgusting entities, and that we live
in a contaminated environment, humans are frequently poised on the edge of potential disgust [which]
plays a significant role in humor, via jokes, cartoons, and casual word play.”53
A real deep humor is laughter at oneself, says Alan Watts. He calls humor a perfectly genuine act,
an attempt to reveal the difference between what is inside and outside: “When you peel an onion and
you don’t really understand the nature of an onion, you might look for the pit in the center, like any
ordinary fruit has. But the onion doesn’t have a center. It’s all skins.”54 For this reason Simon Critchley
49
“Jokes and their relation to the unconscious” — p.10.
Neighbor, Karaca, Lang, 2003.
51 “The Psychology of Laughter and Comedy” — pp. 151—152, 327.
52 “The Psychology of Laughter and Comedy” — pp. 70—72.
53 “Handbook of Emotions” — pp. 769—770.
54 Watts, A. A perfectly genuine act (What is humor?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jPL_U5caa0.
50
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(2004) calls humor “a nicely impossible object for a philosopher,” as “a joke explained is a joke
misunderstood.”55
Before Darwin (1872) defined laughter as primarily “the expression of mere joy or happiness,”56
a number of thinkers were trying to figure out what is the meaning of it, or, in other words, why do we
laugh. In the 20th century, psychoanalysts joined the quest. John Morreall (1987) draws attention to the
following three most popular theories:57
The superiority theory (Plato, Aristotle, Quintilian; Thomas Hobbes in his Human Nature and
Leviathan) regards laughter as an expression of condescension. It also brings about the division between
“us” and “them.” Bob Mankoff, cartoon editor of The New Yorker, calls it the easiest and perfectly
legitimate thing to do with humor. The formula is “a friend makes fun of an enemy.”58 Chapman & Foot
(1995) remark that setbacks and failures look much funnier when befalling the “right people,” as we
tend to enjoy misfortunes, stupidity, and inadequacy in those we dislike more than in those we like.59
The relief theory (Herbert Spencer; Freud) considers laughter to be a source of relief and
pleasure. According to the latter (1905), it serves a substitute for an attempt to contain or repress psychic
activity: “Humor is not resigned; it is rebellious. It signifies the triumph not only of the ego, but also of
the pleasure principle, which is strong enough to assert itself here in the face of the adverse real
circumstances.”60 Scherer, Schorr, and Johnstone (2001) wrote that we use humor to distance ourselves
from tragedy and the distress it causes.61
Russian philosopher Bakhtin spoke of laughter as a liberating force that in the Middle Ages
exempted a man from his fears and was an incarnation of “the truth of the people.” He wrote that not
only laughter was a triumph over a mystical fear (“fear of God”) and fear in the face of natural forces,
but also triumph over moral fear, which restrained, repressed, and opacified one's mind, fear in the face
of authoritative commands and prohibitions, in the face of death, of what is beyond the grave, of inferno
—everything more frightful than life. By overcoming this fear, asserted Bakhtin, the mind of the man
55
“On humor” — p. 2.
“The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals” — p. 198.
57 “The Philosophy of Laughter and Humor”
58 TED talk “Anatomy of a New Yorker cartoon” by Bob Mankoff. Web: https://www.ted.com/talks/
bob_mankoff_anatomy_of_a_new_yorker_cartoon?language=en#t-961666.
59 “Humor and Laughter. Theory, Research, and Applications” — p. 95.
60 “Sigmund Freud: Dictionary of Psychoanalysis” — p. 74.
61 “Appraisal process in emotions” — p. 60.
56
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becomes clear. This truth was yet ethereal, but already prepared a fertile ground for the Renaissance selfconscious.62
Modern age for philosophy preceded by medieval philosophy relying on faith began with René
Descartes’ call to doubt everything: “De omnibus dubitandum est” (Wilhelm & Hegel, 1892).63 This is
from where the incongruity theory (Francis Hutcheson’s Reflection upon laughter; Kant; Schopenhauer;
Kierkegaard) stems from. It states that laughter encourages us to mind irrelevances we encounter and
helps us to overcome them. This theory has direct connection to the Socratic method, admired and
supported by Søren Kierkegaard in his Concept of Irony, where he emphasizes the importance of
negativity, saying that “everyone who wants to save his soul must lose it” (Kiekegaard, 1992).64 In his
words, critical reflection—subjecting our commons knowledge and practices to critical examination and
rejecting those that are false—is what makes us truly human. He agrees with Socrates’ famous claim that
unexamined life is not worth living.65
In the post-ecologist condition—“a general consensus about the non-negotiability of democratic
consumer capitalism—irrespective of mounting evidence of its unsustainability” (Bluhdorn & Welsh,
2007)66—irony is not only symptom, but also cure, as it can be applied to shed the light to the
discrepancies that slow down our progress in moving towards sustainable life based on universal human
values. This is how Bronislaw Szerszynski looks at it. He proposes an alternative view is environmental
sensibility, which implies acknowledgement of the human condition being full of shadows, paradoxes
and absurdities, i.e. an environmentalism informed by ironic world relation that can help to diagnose and
respond to the crises in public meaning—sustain unsustainable behavior, fulfill the gap between
appearance and reality.67
As English art historian Horace Walpole asserted, the world is a tragedy to those who feel, but to
those who think it becomes a comedy.
62
“The Legacy of François Rabelais and Folk Culture of Middle Ages and Renaissance” Web: http://www.opentextnn.ru/
man/?id=5400.
63 “Lectures on the history of philosophy” — pp. 398—406.
64 “The concept of irony, with continual reference to socrates” — p. 274.
65 Lecture 14: “Søren Kierkegaard—Subjectivity, Irony and the Crisis of Modernity” (Coursera lectures. University of
Copenhagen). Webpage: https://www.coursera.org/learn/kierkegaard.
66 “Eco-politics Beyond the Paradigm of Sustainability: A conceptual Framework and Research Agenda” — pp. 185—205.
67 “The Post-ecologist Condition: Irony as Symptom and Cure” — p. 337—355.
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Case study:
What Do Editorial Cartoons about the 21st United Nations
Conference on Climate Change Have in Common?
Methods
This research focused on targets of humor in editorial cartoons dedicated to the 21st UN CCC.
We narrowed down our sample of content to those editorial cartoons that met the following criteria:
1. They referred to debates on climate change.
2. They were published in popular online newspapers.
3. They were published in the period from November 30 to December 12.
4. They were published in media sourced from the ten countries with the highest total GHG
emissions. These include, in order of ranking, China, the United States, the European Union (the
aggregate emissions from its 28 member states), India, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Japan, Canada, and
Mexico. As the World Resources Institute asserts, the aforementioned countries together play a more
important role in determining the climate of the future than others, as they comprise 60% of the world
population and 74% of global GDP, and have substantial human and financial capacity to improve
outcomes through political cooperation.68
68
“6 graphs explain the world’s top 10 emitters” by Ge, M., Friedrich, J., Damassa, T. 25 November 2014. Web: http://
www.wri.org/blog/2014/11/6-graphs-explain-world’s-top-10-emitters. The data derived from the WRI’s CAIT database.
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We took into consideration crucial components of their INDCs as we hypothesized that these
editorial cartoons would target first and foremost high-profile politicians involved in the debate,
emphasizing the clash of interest between developed (e.g. the US and the EU) and developing countries
(e.g. China and India). We also examined our presumption that environmentalists and scientists, on the
contrary, would be rarely depicted and remain rather impersonal crowds calling to save the planet.
Therefore we paid special attention to those few cartoons where they were present to see what features
of these circles became objects of ridicule and what situations these cartoons referred to.
As a method, we applied traditional content analysis described by McQuail (2010)69, which
presupposes the following:
1. The link between the external object of reference and the reference to it in the content will be
unambiguous.
2. The frequency of occurrence of chosen references will validly express the predominant
meaning of the content in an objective way.
To meet these requirements, when asking ourselves what is the target of humor, we looked
primarily at the main characters and phenomena highlighted in the editorial cartoons, assigning
respective categories to them, and counted how many times these categories—or their elements (if there
were several targets in one cartoon, we created a separate category for them)—occurred throughout the
sample (see Appendix).
The discussion about various additional layers of interpretation that would imply deep semiotic
analyses of each image was deliberately left aside premised on our attempt to avoid biases deriving from
the cultural backgrounds of people involved in this research. However, it could become a matter for
further consideration for our team and other academics who work in the field of humor research. As for
now, we have an excuse for restricting our study to the parameters outlined: as Frank Cioffi (1998)
pointed out, when it comes to what makes us smile or laugh, “we must have the courage of our
parochialism,”70 recognize the limitations inherent in our comprehension, which we possess by the very
fact that we do not share the same “preoccupations and epistemic temperament” as the rest of mankind.
69
70
Following Berelson’s (1952) definition.
“Wittgenstein on Freud and Frazer” — p. 18.
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Also, we restrained from labeling the cartoonists, with respect to the media they contributed to,
as adherents of certain ideologies, since we framed the issue in time and scale. South African cartoonist
Jonathan “Zapiro” Shapiro provides an argument in favor of this abstention—it is important to bear in
mind the continuum: “People would judge a particular cartoon and say: well, that cartoon is leaving out
a big issue. Yes, it is, but hopefully you gonna pick that up in another cartoon.”71
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Results
Total number of cartoons: 85 (found in media of 18 countries out of 37 reviewed).
The countries where we have found sufficient content to include into the sample were: Mexico,
Canada, India, the US, China, and the following European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and the UK.
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Mexico
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Excerpt from Mexico’s INDC: “It is indeed possible to grow economically, to generate social
wellbeing at the same time taking care of our environment [the Mexican government announced it
will invest 23 billion dollars at refineries to slash GHG from gasoline by 90%: 3.1 billion aimed at
reducing sulfur content in gasoline in early 2016; 3 billion targeting three refineries and a gas
processing plant in order to make them produce their own electricity, cutting 3,000 tons of GHG per
megawatts generated each year starting in 2018; 13 billion targeting to increase capacity to process
crude oil; and another 3.9 billion to try and reduce demand for imports of diesel with low sulfur
content].”—Enrique Peña Nieto, President of the United Mexican States
Media reviewed: Major Mexican online newspapers El Universal and Milenio; La Jornada, one
of the Mexico City’s leading daily newspapers and, according to Noam Chomsky, “maybe the only real
71
#Je suis Charlie—are you? The Charlie Hebdo story seen through the eyes of cartoonists from around the world. 25 Jan
2015. Web: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2015/01/suis-charlie-150124235116941.html.
72
Noam Chomsky interviewed for Outlook magazine by Ashraf, A. & Raman, A. 1 November 2010. Web: https://
chomsky.info/20101101/.
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independent newspaper in the [Southern] hemisphere”72; El Informador, an independent daily
newspaper published and headquartered in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Number of cartoons: 1.
Categories: Bible (1).
Resume: The editorial cartoon “Climate change” has a Biblical motif in it, we see how during
weather fluctuations no one has control, even such an idyllic and sacred moment as the coming of Christ
the Savior (the cartoon is based on juxtaposition “Before”/“Now”).
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Canada
Excerpt from Canada’s INDC: “Our government is making climate change a top priority. And
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our actions will be based on five principles: first, we will act based on the best scientific evidence and
advice; second, we will support and implement policies that contribute to the development of a lowcarbon economy and this will include carbon pricing; third and very importantly, we will work with
our provinces, territories, cities, and indigenous leaders who are taking a leadership role on climate
change; […] forth, we will help the developing world to tackle challenges of climate change; […]
finally, we view climate change not just as the challenge it is, but also as a historic opportunity. […]
We will not sacrifice growth—we will create growth.”—Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Media reviewed: The Globe and Mail (aka “newspaper of record”); National Post, its main
competitor; Le Devoir, the only independent popular online newspaper in Quebec and one of the few in
Canada.
Number of cartoons: 8.
Categories: Blame of the rich (1); Climate change vs. ISIS (1); Fossil fuels (2); High-profile
representatives (2); Justin Trudeau vs. Stephen Harper (1); Justin Trudeau, Denis Coderre, Philippe
Couillard (1).
Resume: Recently appointed Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau (the Liberal Party) is promoting
Canada’s ambition to be in vanguard of climate initiatives. When addressing leaders during the COP21,
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he said “Canada is back!”73, referring to events associated with Stephen Harper’s leadership (the
Conservative Party): in December 2012, Canada became the first country to formally withdraw from the
Kyoto Protocol. These are several facts one should be aware of when looking at Le Devoir’s cartoon
depicting Trudeau with a portrait of his predecessor, trying to inscribe him to “the list of species
menaced by climate change.” Here, we can also see environmentalists in the background, with a
traditional slogan: “Save the planet!” During his visit to the COP21, Trudeau had posted on Twitter a
photo of him with other Canadian leaders, followed by the caption: “To fight climate change, we’re all
in this together.”74 As we see in the next cartoon, Trudeau is enthusiastically taking a selfie of him and
his colleagues. The satirist asks the question: “What would then Trudeau, [Mayor of Montreal Denis]
Coderre and [Premier of Quebec Philippe] Couillard do together in Paris?”
Another object of ridicule is the array of high-profile representatives who have a tendency to
arrive to COPs on their private jets. The Globe and Mail’s cartoonist pictured them arriving to the
conference on bicycles instead, while National Post’s sketched Ban Ki-moon surrounded by famous
politicians who “at last reached a unanimous global decision” about what dish they are all going to
order. Such messages are accompanied by the “blame of the rich.” The climate deal signed during the
COP21 fails to prevent low-lying islands from being overcome by rising sea levels; as we see in the
cartoon where the scientist announces, “…With the warming climate, more little islands will vanish
from sight…”, followed by the caption, “A certain realization seems to settle in the Paris Conference,”
for many men of fortune and property, participating in the COP21, who consider them their favorite
seaside resorts and places for offshoring, such a situation is also in a way “threatening.”
One of the cartoons juxtaposes climate change with another global danger, ISIS: “OK, so we’re
the second biggest threat facing the world today,” says a terrorist while reading a newspaper, “That’s
still pretty good!”
Two cartoons are telling a story of the paradigm shift: eternal flame becomes energy-efficient
light bulb (“Climate change initiative,” says an overseer to pedestrians); switching to a low-carbon
economy might soon imply changes of habits and customs (e.g. not having a coal fire lit on Christmas
Eve) through contemplating the connection between what we see as traditional and cozy alongside our
73
“Seven things Canada needs to accomplish in Paris” by Bernstein, J. and McGraw, D. The Globe and Mail. 1 December
2015. Web: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/seven-things-canada-needs-to-accomplish-in-paris/article27545832/.
74
Justin Trudeau’s official Twitter account: https://twitter.com/justintrudeau/status/671403931025698816.
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individual impact on the environment (households can be tested for the amount of carbon emissions they
produce).
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India
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Excerpt from India’s INDC: “Democratic India must grow rapidly to meet the aspirations of
1.25 billion people, 300 million of whom are without access to energy. […] We have set ambitious
targets. By 2030, we will reduce emissions by 33 to 35% of 2005 levels, and 40% of our installed
capacity will be from our non-fossil fuels. We will achieve it by expanding renewable energy—for,
example, by adding 175 gigawatts of renewable generation by 2022. We will enlarge our forest cover
to absorb at least 2.5 billion tonnes worth of carbon dioxide. […] We hope advanced nations will
assume ambitious targets and pursue them sincerely. It is not just a question of historical
responsibility. They also have the most room to make the cuts and make the strongest impact.”—
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India
Media reviewed: The Times of India, the most widely read English-language newspaper in the
country.75
Number of cartoons: 15.
Categories: Adaptation (1); Bible (1); Climate change vs. ISIS (1); COP21 (2); High-profile
representatives (1); Indigenous people (1); Narendra Modi observing Barack Obama vs. the poor (1);
Narendra Modi blamed by US (1); Narendra Modi and the poor (1); Narendra Modi and the rich (1);
India and China vs. US (1); Narendra Modi and Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli (1); Omar Abdullah and
Amma (1); Parliament of India (1).
Resume: According to his satirical compatriots, Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister, is clearly
in the limelight (mentioned five times): as a scapegoat of the US’s—markedly hypocritical, as they
depict it,—indignation, with regard to India’s intention to almost double its utilization of coal—despite
75
“IRS 2012 Q3: Cumulative readership of top 10 English, Hindi dailies shows marginal growth” by Campaign India Team.
29 January 2013. Web: http://www.campaignindia.in/article/330472,irs-2012-q3-cumulative-readership-of-top-10-englishhindi-dailies-shows-marginal-growth.aspx.
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endorsing renewable energy—in the nearest future76 (the Statue of Liberty is overhanging with a blazing
torch behind Narendra Modi with his miserable little candle giving off a tiny puff of smoke: “Hey, you!
This is NO SMOKING zone!”); together with China (the dragon), India (the elephant) is blamed for
stubbornly moving the world backwards and proclaimed the main troublemaker (whipped by furious
Uncle Sam commanding the dragon and elephant to turn and move in the opposite direction). In these
cartoons, we see Modi as undeveloped and a much less influential negotiator (no guns, no cigars), as
well as a relatively affluent and lucky citizen of poor people’s India (Bharat), where they say to
unsatisfied President Obama, “No, sirji, only you can afford global warming, all we can afford is gobar
warming,” Gobar—“cow dung” in Hindi—is one of the most common energy sources for rural India.
Another cartoon portrays Modi with Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli; the former
introduces the later to the concept of “gandhigiri” (adding to it prefix eco-), a relatively new term in
India which is used to express the ideas of Mohandas Gandhi, in particular non-violent insurrection. The
ongoing Nepalese Constitutional crisis, accompanied by cruel protests, according to some Nepalese
politicians, is supported by India, but both Modi and Oli maintain friendly relationships with each other
in public77: “That’s one climate that’ll never change—they’ll keep blowing hot and cold with each
other,” meaning the relations will remain in a perpetual state of uncertainty.
Another Indian politician who became a target of humor is Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of
Jammu and Kashmir, who is presented as “the erstwhile flood victim.” In September 2014, he called the
floods that took place in the area he governs the worst in a century; he reported to local media: “I had no
government… My secretariat, the police headquarters, the control room, fire services, hospitals, all the
infrastructure was underwater… I had no cell phone and no connectivity…”78 Here, he is having a
phone conversation with Amma (“Mother”), a Hindu spiritual leader and guru, in which he reveals his
ignorance: “I’m not sure if floods are caused by climate change. But they can result in…” He stops, and
hears on the other end: “…climate change.”
76
"Mixing coal and solar energy India's route to sustained economic growth" by Earl, G. Financial Review. 8 March 2016.
Web: http://www.afr.com/news/world/asia/mixing-coal-and-solar-energy-indias-route-to-sustained-economicgrowth-20160307-gnd5ye.
77
"I am not anti-India, Nepal PM Oli tells Modi amid protests" by Parashar, U. Hindustan Times. 1 January 2016. Web:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world/i-am-not-anti-india-nepal-pm-oli-tells-modi-on-phone/
story-5U9UhhjfJC16FGEwDuNZMM.html.
78
"Did Kashmir abandon its flood-hit people?" by Biswas, S. BBC News. 12 September 2014. Web: http://www.bbc.com/
news/world-asia-india-29170087.
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In the series of cartoons “Just like that,” we see a variety of themes: Indian political parties with
controversial agendas and ideologies that altogether cause “climate change in Parliament”; “Chennai’s
global warming traffic cop,” who does nothing but shows “STOP” to the crowd of drowning drivers;
high-profile politicians who are accustomed to arrive to COPs in their luxury cars escorted by
motorcades; and the mockery of adaptation: “Given our pollution levels, his body needs this gas [CO2]
not that [O2], to survive.”
Editorial cartoons in The Times of India are characterized by extensive usage of puns such as
“global”/“gobar,” “cop”/“COP,” “cap” as an accessory/“cap” as an upper limit, “global
warming”/“global swarming.” The last example refers to ISIS, picturing a spooky scenario for the
country, with a horde of terrorists, entitled: “Global Swarming // Destination India.”
One cartoon touches upon the insecurity and naïvety of indigenous people of the Arctic: “Look at
it this way—in three years your roof could leak,” says the salesman selling a refrigerator to an eskimo.
The Indian cartoonists also refer to the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark: “Uh, oh,” looks out Noah,
“climate change already?”.
The US
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Excerpt from the US’s INDC: “I’ve come here personally, as the leader of the world’s largest
economy and the second-largest emitter, to say that the United States of America not only recognize
our role in creating this problem, we embrace our responsibility to do something about it. […] There
are hundreds of billions of dollars ready to deploy to countries around the world if they get the signal
that we mean business this time. Let’s send that signal.”—Barack Obama, President of the United
States of America
Media reviewed: The New York Times, known as “newspaper of record,” The New York Times
and The Washington Post are among the other leading American newspapers.
Number of cartoons: 11.
Categories: Climate change denier (1); Climate negotiations (1); COP21 (1); Fossil fuels (1);
India (1); Republican Mitch McConnell (1); Republicans don’t give up (2); Republicans and
greenwashing (1); Republicans vs. climate science (1); US vs. China (1).
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Resume: American editorial cartoons we have been reviewing are predominantly critical of
representatives of the Republican Party (mentioned five times), pictured as goofy and fatty elephants.
One of the Party’s members who gained special attention is Mitch McConnell, a notorious coal
proponent,79 compared by The Washington Post’s cartoonist with the nasty Grinch who stole Christmas:
“The Arctic ice melted! I’ve lost my workshop! There will be no toys!” complains Santa, submerged in
the water with all his possessions; “I have lots of coal you can give them,” replies McConnell. We see
Republicans as dismissive of climate science because it threatens their “business as usual.” And their
climate change denial is presented here as a matter of stubbornness—as the underwater rock on which
the uncompromising elephant is standing on the points of his toes, with only the tip of his proboscis
sticking out of the sea (“Republicans are holding their ground in the raging climate,” explains the title).
In the cartoon “GOP is gaming out the pluses and minuses for acting on climate change”, they, however,
do not mind employing a greenwashing parallel to their idiosyncratic arguments: “Climate change can’t
be solved if we act but the rest of the world doesn’t.” “And vice versa. Heh-heh.” “Let’s just act like we
care.” The cartoonist also suggests that they might be facing “another challenge on climate change: “We
will fight any progress on climate because we suspect the world is full of people just as irresponsible
about it as we are…”
One of the cartoons depicts a climate change denier with a frying pan, tossing the planet like a
pancake.
The cartoon “And now it’s decision time on Climate” plays with the bombastic last-chanceargument: “Solution for the next 200,000 years.”
Several cartoons in The New York Times target other major emitters. In one of them, entitled “Do
what I say, not what I do,” the US passes the buck to China: “To save the planet, you should give up my
way of life,” says the fat American to the slim Chinese.
Another cartoon depicts India as responsible for retarding the process of reaching the final
agreement at the climate summit (“The emerging economy could pose many demands on developed
countries before agreeing to a deal”).
79
"Coal state senators look to block Obama's climate rules" by Kate Sheppard. The Huffington Post. 27 October 2015. Web:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/senators-resist-clean-power-plan_us_562fd704e4b00aa54a4b9dae.
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The cartoon “Paris weather forecast. Winds expected” presents climate negotiations as the windy
time: wind turbines are turning, while politicians are preaching to the wind with their climate pledges.
The cartoon “Someday, people may provide a new energy source” depicts the fossil fuel industry
with its wells as resembling the prehistoric beast: “Tomorrow’s dinosaurs!”
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China
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Excerpt from China’s INDC: “China pledges to peak CO2 emissions by around 2030 and
strive to achieve it as soon as possible, and by 2030, reduce CO2 per unit of GDP by 60—65% over
the 2005 level, raise the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to about 20% and
increase forest stock by around 4.5 billion cubic meters over 2005. This requires strenuous efforts, but
we have confidence and resolve to fulfill our commitments.”—Xi Jinpin, President of the People's
Republic of China
Media reviewed: Online newspapers China Daily and Global Times, which are both state-run and
give a Chinese perspective on international affairs the country is involved in; it is generally considered
that Global Times is more liberal than other Chinese newspapers and has a yellowish tint.
Number of cartoons: 4.
Categories: Climate change vs. ISIS (1); “Save the planet!” (3).
Resume: In Chinese editorial cartoons the Earth is the main character and it is portrayed as the
victim for whom there is no help from humanity. We observe this motif in the cartoons “Degrees of
wrangling” and “Back from the brink,” both published in Global Times, and “Save the Earth,” published
in China Daily.
One other cartoon entitled “Terrorism and climate change” shows both of the threats eager to
play chess with the official who turned his back to the latter to deal with the former. ‘Terrorism’ rejoices,
rubbing his hands. ‘Climate change’ cries hysterically, with smoke pouring out of its head: “Hey! Be
quick!” !
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There is certainly no lack of drama in these Chinese editorial cartoons, which makes them rather
more sarcastic than ironic in their critique of climate negotiations and “Save the planet!” motto.
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The EU
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Excerpt from the EU’s INDC: “The EU's contribution to the new agreement will be a binding,
economy-wide, domestic greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 40% by 2030 from
1990 levels. At least 27% share for renewable energy. At least 27% improvement in energy
efficiency.”—The EU vision for the new agreement
!
Austria
Media reviewed: Social liberal German-language newspaper Kurier.
Number of cartoons: 4.
Categories: Arctic animals (2); Climate change denier (1); COP21 (1).
Resume: All four cartoons depict absurd situations associated with the future of
mankind
affected by climate change that are presented through the visiotypes we elaborated on in the theoretical
part of this thesis. These are windmills that are becoming ubiquitous in the cartoon called “Alternative
energy”—a depiction of the technological peculiarities of already unfolding future—and “Silly
reindeers” in the car with Santa who got stuck in the drifting iceberg and say that they need more horse
power—a mockery of human obsession with the speed of progress that violates planetary boundaries
and eventually brings about implications that make our further advancements in certain areas of the
world uncomfortable or even impossible. We also see the polar bear himself who attends the summit,
with a label “EXTINCT” on his back, which is entitled here as “Classic climate change conference joke”
and a climate change skeptic in the open space, colonizing a new land, pokes environmentalists, “Ha!
Tell me there is no planet B,” which can be regarded as a derision of their alarmism and at the same time
a parody on the obstinacy of those who doubt that they—akin to American Republicans—have anything
to do with global warming.
!
Belgium
Media reviewed: Gazet van Antwerpen, an independent online newspaper serving Flanders.
Number of cartoons: 12.
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Categories: Arctic animals (2); Belgium (3); China (1); Climate negotiations (3); COP21 (2);
Regional elections in France (1).
Resume: Editorial cartoons published in Gazet van Antwerpen make fun mostly of the COP21
and climate negotiations per se (together they are mentioned five times), involving Arctic animals
(mentioned two times), who comment on the event in a quite vitriolic manner. Again, the polar bear is
given the floor: in the cartoon “Activists at the climate summit,” one of the bears, followed by a penguin
—both wearing explosive belts—and his fellow, armed with a rifle, says, “Perhaps the climate gets
whatever attention!”; in the cartoon “There is a climate agreement,” there are two bears swimming in the
ocean, whose iceberg has recently crumbled, so one bear shouts angrily at another, which gives us an
explanation concerning what has actually happened, “A joy jump, idiot!” The cartoon called “Quick
wins on climate salon” has a blackish tint: we see a military servant who presents a torpedo he brought
to the exposition saying, “This allows to halve the CO2-emissions of a coal plant.”
Speaking about the target of curbing the emissions in a way that would keep the global
temperature increase below 2°C, such endeavor is compared with the efforts of Atlas from Greek
mythology, a Titan who was doomed to hold the sky. In the next century, the sea level is supposed to rise
dramatically, but the cartoon captioned “Climate rally in 2100” predicts that people and the slogan
“STOP CO2” will persevere.
In “Paris: Let them out only when there is a climate agreement,” we see a “hot” symposium—
sweating politicians trapped in a sauna and forced to come up with a deal, so that none of them has a
doubt—at least corporeally—that warming can become problematic if they remain silent. We see in
another cartoon that, in addition to that, outside the blue zone—COP’s area for hardcore climate talks—
there is also scorn expressed on behalf of “business as usual”: “Frozly’s air conditioning: Because you
know that these politicians making the same fuss,” addresses the curvy lady from the billboard those
who are heading to the conference.
Three images ridicule Belgium, depicting its national delegation sent to the COP21 as
completely unprepared, with no single document to present, while other countries bring piles of data
with them; untaught and ridiculous as to fulfilling their own ambitions regarding sustainable
development: “We want to achieve the climate goals… Therefore every Belgian must walk around
[forcing the wind turbine he carries to move]”; and quite nonchalant at the same time, allowing nuclear
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reactors to continue their operation even though they were previously scheduled to be shut down in 2015
due to their expiry dates80: “Targets 1 and 2 will remain open for 10 more years,” is captioned the
cartoon in which those two targets are smiling and running hand in hand through a field teeming with
windmills.
One of the cartoons alludes to the regional elections in France that took place simultaneously
with the COP21; prior to them, the polls predicted unprecedented support for the right-oriented Front
National81: “How close to the white line?”, asks the minister who was stopped by a road traffic
controller on her way to climate summit. “From now on we drive extreme right in France,” he exhorts.
The only other country solely referred to in one of the Belgian cartoons is China that “promises
to do something about the smog”: “We will destroy all our fossil fuels!”, announces the Chinese speaker.
“How?”, asks a journalist. The answer: “Incinerate.”
Bulgaria
Media reviewed: Bulgarian colloquial and satirical tabloid 24 Chasa; one of the most popular
features in the newspaper is the daily cartoon Malkiyat Ivancho, drawn by the well-known Bulgarian
cartoonist Ivaylo Ninov.
Number of cartoons: 1.
Categories: Global Warming vs. Cold War (1).
Resume: One guy says to another, with a sphere in the background, “Alternation of the Cold War
and Global Warming badly affects the health of humanity.” The title of this cartoon, based on a quibble
“Cold War”/“Global Warming”, contains a tricky question: “How to keep—together or separately?”
!
Denmark
Media reviewed: Politiken, a leading Danish online newspaper that maintains a liberal and
centre-left stance.
80
"Belgium's aging nuclear plants worry neighbors" by Boelpaep, B. BBC News. 2 February 2016. Web: http://
www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35469932.
81
"French regional elections: voting begins as moderates attempt to curb rise of far right" by Chrisafis, A. The Guardian. 13
December 2015. Web: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/13/french-vote-regional-elections-polls-suggest-farright-will-struggle.
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Number of cartoons: 4.
Categories: Refugees (1); EU (1); Lars Løkke Rasmussen (2).
Resume: Denmark links the climate change debate with the current refugee crisis. “Future
climate refugees must be stopped today” says the title of one of the cartoons. A boat, jam-packed with
passengers, is lost in the middle of the ocean. One of the crew members cries out, “Turn back!”
Another cartoon called “Torrential climate change” is critical of the European measures to
improve safety.82 The lady in a burka says, “No, it was not a thunder”; the caption elucidates: “While the
whole world is dealing with climate change in Paris, the EU is busy sending bombers to the Middle
East.”
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark, was targeted by the Politiken’s cartoonist
twice. His office has been famously criticized by climate policy specialists for its lack of strategy
necessary to achieve climate goals and for the absence of a sufficient contribution in previous climate
negotiations.83 Excerpt from Løkke’s speech at the COP21: “Our objective is to accelerate innovation in
public and private global clean energy. The goal is to make sure that clean energy is widely affordable.
Never before have we been this close to actually changing the direction of our world and our
climate…”84 For his rhetoric, he is portrayed by the cartoonist as Sancho Panza who hacks the windmills
(“Climate goals slaughtered one by one”) and an utterly tedious speaker who himself does not mind to
take a nap while being at his country’s service (“Løkke’s climate talk in Paris was piping hot air”).
!
Finland
Media reviewed: Popular national online newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.
Number of cartoons: 1.
Categories: COP21 and greenwashing (1).
82
"Germany to send up to 1,200 troops to Middle East after Bundestag approves military action against Isis in Syria" by
Dearden, L. Independent. 4 December 2015. Web: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/germany-votes-toapprove-military-action-against-isis-in-syria-a6760131.html.
83
"Copenhagen climate failure blamed on Danish text" by Vidal, J. The Guardian. 31 May 2010. Web: http://
www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/may/31/climate-change-copenhagen-danish-text.
84
Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s statement at COP21 in Paris on 30 November 2015. Web: http://www.stm.dk/
_p_14273.html.
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Resume: The man says to the lady (both, presumably, are COP21 organizers) who covers her
face with the palm, confronting Yoda, the Incredible Hulk, Kermit the Frog, and Shrek, “But you told
me to bring green movie celebrities!”
!
France
Media reviewed: Charlie Hebdo, well-known French satirical weekly magazine left-wing
political alignment, available online.85
Number of cartoons: 4.
Categories: China (1); COP21 (1); Marine Le Pen (1); COP21 and greenwashing (1).
Resume: Each cartoon in Charlie Hebdo is accompanied by a brief overview of the day. Three
out of the selected four give an insight into the events they refer to86:
One, titled “The conference for all records” (by Gérard Biard), helps to understand what the
cartoon, captioned “COP21: Begins good,” is about: “It is not known whether the COP21 will have a
beneficial effect on the climate, but what is certain is that it has already won the battle of figures… No
need to predict the apocalypse, it is already there—40 000 visitors expected each day, who will be
drinking water volumes comparable with the volumes of 50 fountains; needless to predict drought, it is
already there... The only figure we may have trouble with attaining in the end is the carbon footprint of
the two-week planetary rout.”
Greenwashing also becomes the target for the French satirists. Another piece “False pubs for real
crooks” (by Antonio Fischetti) complements the cartoon, captioned “The police makes a gesture to save
the planet,” displaying as necessary means for the accomplishment of such action “bamboo baton”,
“coconut casque,” and “recyclable demonstrator”: “At first glance, one would think it is a real pub.
There is the Air France logo and comely hostess. Parody reveals itself in the text: «We are an airline. We
sponsor the UN climate conference to give the impression that we are a part of the solution and to ensure
that our profits will not be affected…» Other parodies are dedicated to Total («Our philosophy is one
you do not need to know») or Volkswagen («Drive cleaner or at least pretend to do so»). The merry men,
85 We
picked this magazine for the reason of controversy caused by its visual content and the outrageous events that followed
the publication of cartoons of Muhammad. Unlike Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, famous for its caustic cartoons, it
grants free access, which was an additional argument in favor of including Charlie Hebdo into our sample.
86
Our translation of excerpts from French. Originals can be found on the magazine’s website: https://charliehebdo.fr/en/.
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who replaced the true Parisian bus shelter posters by these pastiches, belong to the collective
Brandalism, a combination of «brand» and «vandalism.» As it all was inclining us to laugh at the
COP21, we had to do it! As for vandalism, the worst is those polluters who want us to believe they care
about the climate.”
The cartoon featuring Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right in France, in the costume of
Darth Vader is well explained by the piece “Climbing brown waters” (by Gérard Biard) that follows it:
“What a waste of time and money, this COP21!.. The National Front has the solution. Its almost 30% at
the national level will not be impressed by miserable two degrees [increase] in temperature. With
returning to the franc, we will get back to our good old seasons, for sure: floral springs, warm winters
but not too much, beautiful late autumn and winter with snow on Christmas. Beside all these not-at-ourplace we will throw into the sea and swallow a mouthful, not sure there is enough fleet in the
Mediterranean for rising waters. Nice is saved! The only risk that remains is a slight dislocation of local
fauna. It may well be that from next Sunday the Shtis will begin to speak with the accent of the Var.”
The cartoon “Climate: China is ready to make the efforts?” pictures a factory producing phones
for Apple, where all the employees are polar bears. The unanimous response of these fictional
inhabitants of Celestial Kingdom is: “My ass!” Unlike the cartoons described above, it does not
correspond with the overview of the day that accompanies it.
!
Germany
Media reviewed: Der Tagesspiegel, a classical liberal online newspaper.
Number of cartoons: 2.
Categories: Arctic animals (1); “Save the planet!” (1).
Resume: In the cartoon titled “If Paris fails,” with quite clear allusion to the refugee crisis, one
man says to the other, “We finally need limits!!” observing through his binoculars a boat full of polar
bears sailing to the shore.
In “Planet’s head gets hot. Will we help it to cool it?” the Earth sits in an inflatable boat, which is
sinking, as it has holes punched in it. The Earth says, “Really? They discuss in Paris just how you could
tinker a lifeline for me? That's fantastic!!”
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Ireland
Media reviewed: The Irish Times, a popular national online newspaper, in general politically
liberal and progressive and centre-right on economic issues.
Number of cartoons: 3.
Categories: Climate negotiations (1); Enda Kenny (2).
Resume: One of the cartoons depicts Taoiseach Enda Kenny smeared with manure. During
COP21 he was trying to persuade the delegates that the contribution that the agri-food sector could make
to reducing GHG emissions is overestimated. Kenny claimed that Ireland should be treated as a special
case for producing its edible products more sustainably than other countries.87 Another cartoon portrays
Kenny exclaiming slogans like “global warming measures,” “flood defenses,” “education reform,”
“legal reform,” and hints that this might be just “hot air”—he is not that mighty: “Do you feel a warm
breeze?” asks one of the listeners. In support of this surmise, above there are two examples of
emergencies that have not so long ago gained headlines in Irish news: storm Desmond (3–8 December
2015), causing heavy rainfall and widespread flooding that damaged transport infrastructure and left
thousands of buildings without electricity88; the incident with Clodagh Cogley, a 21-year-old victim of
the Berkeley balcony collapse, as a result of which six Irish students were killed and seven seriously
injured.89
“And they say climate conferences don’t seem to help at all, at all…” points out a man, putting
heavy volumes of reports from climate negotiations before the doorway of his house to prevent the flood
from entering it.
!
The Netherlands
Media reviewed: Popular national online newspaper Trouw, with no particular political
alignment.
87
"Ireland’s climate change gassy problem and the importance of farming" by Spain, J. Irish Central. 10 December 2015.
Web: http://www.irishcentral.com/news/irishvoice/Irelands-Climate-Change-gassy-problem-and-the-importance-offarming.html.
88
"Storm Desmond: Thousands of people flooded out of homes" BBC News. 7 December 2015. Web: http://www.bbc.com/
news/uk-35023558.
89
"Berkeley balcony collapse case hearing in California court" by Garza, T. The Irish Times. 20 January 2016. Web: http://
www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/berkeley-balcony-collapse-case-hearing-in-california-court-1.2503501.
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Number of cartoons: 2.
Categories: Climate policy (2).
Resume: The two cartoons are the only contributions in the whole sample that represent the
category ascribed to them. ABP—Algemeen Burgerlijk Pensioenfonds (“Dutch Civil Servants Pension
Fund”), depicted as a piggy bank on a leash of an old couple, is the biggest pension fund in the
Netherlands, which announced in October 2015 that it will reduce CO2 emissions of businesses it
invests in by 25% within the next five years, doubling at the same time investments in sustainable
energy.90
Another cartoon depicts Themis, the personification of divine order and law, wearing a gas mask,
“CO2 reduction now!” she urges men in suits. “First talk!” they reply.
!
Portugal
Media reviewed: Popular national tabloid Público, known as a publication with extensive texts
and few illustrations.
Number of cartoons: 5.
Categories: Barack Obama (1); Climate negotiations (2); Pope Francis (1); “Save the
planet!” (1).
Resume: The cartoons are presented as stripes containing dialogues questioning certain aspects
of climate debate that vividly illustrate the common man’s perspective:
1st stripe: “An astronaut plans to launch into space… ...the text of the future agreement on
climate change.” “Why take it into space?” “With the lack of what it does here on Earth…”!
2nd stripe: “Do you think you can save the planet?” “It depends.” “It depends?” “Of course, it
depends on the planet. Shouldn’t I say what is this?!”
3rd stripe: “Barack Obama at the climate conference wants decisions……future generations
would be proud of.” “Always optimistic, this Obama. Believe future generations…”
90
"ABP expects to divest more than 1,500 holdings with new SRI policy" by Preesman, E. and Boschman, O. Investments &
Pensions Europe. 15 October 2015. Web: http://www.ipe.com/countries/netherlands/abp-expects-to-divest-more-than-1500holdings-with-new-sri-policy/10010262.fullarticle.
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4th stripe: “Pope Francis urged more than 150 world leaders at the climate summit... ...to focus
their efforts on «mitigation of the impact of climate change, fight against poverty and for promotion of
human dignity.» What are you going to do? The man urges to believe in miracles.”
5th stripe: “The Summit on Climate Change came to an end... ...No consistent results.” “There is
hope that there will be the next summit!”
!
Slovenia
Media reviewed: Delo, a national left-wing, socialist and liberal online newspaper.
Number of cartoons: 1.
Categories: Fossil fuels (1).
Resume: Climate agreement is depicted as a paper plane that flies from Paris into the heap of
frightened smoke spewed from the pipe called “Slovenian energetics.”
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Spain
Media reviewed: El País, one of the national newspapers of record; its political alienation is
centre-right, pro-monarchy.91
Number of cartoons: 5.
Categories: Mariano Rajoy (1); China (2); Climate change denier (1); Apocalypse (1).
Resume: China was targeted by the Spanish cartoonist twice. One of the cartoons makes fun of
its local superstition, “Suspecting breach on behalf of China, the agreements was made at the UN
climate summit in Paris, after the oriental delegation bestowed this curious cat [that allegedly brings
luck] on the remaining participants.” Another portrays a Chinese representative rushing to the
conference and carrying instead of a suitcase the F-gesture: “Urgently sent today from Beijing, with
trenchant instructions, a plenipotentiary arrived at the decisive meeting, very determined, despite
chronic bronchitis pollution.”
Two images are accompanied with a footnote in a yellow frame in the lower left corner: “…But
don’t forget about the refugees.” One cartoon depicts an apocalyptic situation: somewhere in the XXIV
91
On 16 February 2012, edition of El País was banned in Morocco due to the publication of a cartoon which, according to
the Moroccan authorities, tarnished King Mohammed VI's name.
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century, one archeologist asks another, scrutinizing a light bulb he has recently found, “And what is
this?” His peer answers: “I don't know; but since it smells of hamburgers, must be the XXI century.”
Another image caricatures a climate railman, who happens to be climate change denier, yelling at a
passenger trying to tease him with a phrase “climate change”: “Repeat if you dare, populistic heretic!”
In the cartoon captioned “To combat rising temperature, revise thermometers downwards,” a
humorous life-hack is presented as an idea sticking out from the head of Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s Prime
Minister.
!
The UK
Media reviewed: The Guardian, a center-left liberal newspaper, praised for its extensive coverage
of environmental issues.
Number of cartoons: 2.
Categories: François Hollande, Xi Jinping, Barack Obama, David Cameron, Narendra Modi (1);
Volkswagen Group (1).
Resume: One of the cartoons mocks the epic triumph of high-profile politicians at the COP21,
including David Cameron, François Hollande, and leaders of the most targeted countries in terms of
satirical media coverage we have dealt with so far: “We saved the world!” they shout.
Another cartoon refers to the scandal with a famous car brand. On 18 September 2015, the
United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of violation of the Clean Air Act to
German automaker Volkswagen Group, after it was investigated that its vehicles’ turbocharged direct
injection diesel engines are programmed to cause their nitrogen oxide output to meet US standards
during regulatory testing, but emit up to 40 times more in real-world driving, which applies to about
500,000 cars in the country.92 “This is to cheat the defeat device,” proposes the scientist, whose
disrespect to conditional boundaries is evidently a target of humor here.
!
The countries where we have not found sufficient content to include in the sample were: Japan,
Brazil, Indonesia, Russia, and European countries such as Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia,
92
"VW could face long legal nightmare" by Clive Coleman. BBC News. 24 September 2015. Web: http://www.bbc.com/
news/business-34352243.
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Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden
(19 in total).
The details are provided in the following tables:
Countries
Excerpts from INDCs
Media reviewed
Japan
“Japan will provide, in 2020, approximately 1.3
trillion Japanese yen of public and private climate
finance, 1.3 times up from the current level, to
developing countries. […] I will ensure Japan’s
involvement in the work of GCF [Green Climate
Fund] from the project-forming stage for swift
implementation of the next year’s support of 2.5
billion dollars. […] By next spring Japan will
formulate the Energy and Environment Innovation
Strategy. Prospective focused areas will be
identified and research and development on them
will be strengthened.”—Shinzō Abe, Prime Minister
of Japan
Liberal national online
newspapers Asashi Shinbun and
Mainichi Shinbun; Japan’s
largest and only independent
English-language newspaper The
Japan Times.
Brazil
“Brazil’s intended nationally-determined
contribution is to reduce emissions by 43% by 2030
vis-à-vis the 2005 baseline. This is an absolute
reduction goal for the whole economy. It is quite
certainly a very ambitious goal, and goes way
beyond our actual share of responsibility for the
increase in the average global temperature. From
that point onwards, we will move towards zero
illegal deforestation in the Amazon region and we
will offset the emissions from legal clearance of
vegetation. Our challenge consists of restoring and
reforesting 12 million hectares of forests and
another 15 million hectares of degraded pasture
lands. Furthermore, all sources of renewable energy
will have their place and share in our expanded
energy mix until such time as, by 2030, we reach
45% in renewables.”—Dilma Vana Rousseff,
President of the Federative Republic of Brazil
Popular national online
newspapers Correio Braziliense,
Estado de Minas, O Estado de S.
Paulo, Folha de S. Paulo, O
Globo, Zero Hora; main
English-language Brazilian
online newspaper The Rio Times.
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Countries
Excerpts from INDCs
Media reviewed
Indonesia
“Indonesia is committed to reduce by 29% from
business as usual levels by 2030. And 41% with
international assistance. […] [the climate
agreement] must reflect equity and fairness… and it
must not impede development in developing
countries.”—Joko Widodo, President of the
Republic of Indonesia
Popular national online
newspapers Kompas, Media
Indonesia, Jawa Pos; Englishlanguage Indonesian online
newspapers The Jakarta Globe
and The Jakarta Post.
Russia
“By 2030, we expect to reduce our emissions by
70% compared to levels recorded in 1990. […]
Russia has developed a nanotube-based technology
which, according to experts, could reduce carbon
dioxide emissions in Russia alone by 160—180
million tonnes. We are ready to exchange such
innovations with the rest of the world. […] Russia
has massive forests and we intend to protect them.
And we want to support developing countries in
their efforts to protect their forests.”—Vladimir
Putin, President of Russian Federation
Main English-language Russian
online newspaper The Moscow
Times.
!
The EU
Country
Media reviewed
Croatia
Popular Croatian online tabloid 24 Sata.
Cyprus
Greek-language newspaper Phileleftheros, which prides itself as
being independent from influence of any political party.
Czech Republic
Popular Czech online tabloids Blesk and Aha!, neutral in their
political and religious leanings.
Estonia
Popular Estonian weekly newspaper Maaleht, available online.
Greece
Greek satirical political weekly newspaper To Pontiki, available
online; some suggest that it has centre-left orientation.
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Social-democratic Hungarian online newspaper Népszava.
Liberal political online newspaper Italia Oggi; an antiestablishment newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano.
Latvian national online newspaper Latvijas Avīze.
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Country
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Media reviewed
Popular Lithuanian online newspapers Lietuvos Rytas and Lietuvos
Žinios.
French-language left-liberal online newspaper Le Quotidien.
Malta
Times of Malta, a newspaper that belongs to the country’s top
media house; it is known as the most influential media sources in
Malta.
Poland
Gazeta Wyborcza, a social-liberal and centre-left nation online
newspaper.
Romania
Popular Romanian online newspaper Cotidianul.
Slovakia
Mainstream Slovakian online newspapers SME.
Sweden
Independent and liberal Swedish online newspaper Dagens
Nyheter.
Discussion
As we made sure, representatives of the political establishment (including those who are outside
the COP21 framework) were most frequently referred to in the editorial cartoons that we analyzed. Out
of 85 selected cartoons, 26 depict them as their main characters: three high-profile politicians in general;
six to Narendra Modi; three to Barack Obama; two to Justin Trudeau; two to Enda Kenny; and two to
Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Mentioned once are Denis Coderre, Philippe Couillard, Khadga Prasad Sharma
Oli, François Hollande, Xi Jinping, David Cameron, Mariano Rajoy, and Pope Francis, who are directly
associated with COP, as well as other politicians who happen to be linked to the climate debate by virtue
of the cartoonists’ imagination: American Republicans, mentioned four times, Mitch McConnell,
Stephen Harper, Parliament of India, Omar Abdullah, Amma, and Marine Le Pen—each mentioned
once.
Eight editorial cartoons present climate change as a geopolitical conundrum determined by the
role of certain countries, revealing conflicts of interest between them. Countries being directly referred
to are: China (6); the US (3); and India (2). The clash of the rich and poor—i.e. developed vs.
developing nations—appears as a target of humor nine times (in non-European countries), six times
referring to Indians, two times to the Chinese, and once to the indigenous peoples of the Arctic and the
inhabitants of ‘drowning’ island countries.
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Media scholars who have been researching cartoons dedicated to the COP15, have found the
most notable “cartoonic” discourse in developing countries, especially Indonesia, with its “blame of the
rich” message (Hahn et al., 2012). From our research, we can deduce that during the COP21 India
fulfilled the role of the main prosecutor.
Five images exploit “Save the planet!” slogans, only reassuring the audience that such an attempt
seems lofty and hopeless (the planet acts on its own).
Climate change denier is mentioned three times.
Seven cartoons portray climate negotiations in general and nine COP21 in particular, of which
two clearly depict greenwashing (the phenomenon is also highlighted in one of the parodies on the
Republicans).
A bunch of cartoons refer to recent geopolitical events, associated with increased insecurity and
religious and political extremism such as attacks of ISIS (3) and the involvement of the EU in military
operations in the Middle East (1), refugees crisis (1), regional elections in France (2).
Four images tell the story of a threatened future for fossil fuels, which will soon be replaced with
new technologies.
In the EU, we have found five cartoons featuring Arctic animals as their main characters: polar
bears (4); reindeers (1); and penguin (1).
One cartoon depicts three Arctic animals as climate activists marching to the COP21, who
resemble terrorists. The only other time we encounter references to climate activists in our sample is in
the background of the cartoon portraying the current Canadian PM. They are, as we expected, pictured
as a faceless mass of people carrying the banner “Save the planet!”.
Scientists appear only three times: announcing that sea level rise will submerge little islands,
being an imminent nuisance for the Republicans, and as an aid for cheating, which became possible and
then widely condemned in the case of Volkswagen Group.
!
Conclusion
This research provides a body of evidence that the editorial cartoons that met our criteria covered
the phantasmagorical nature of the framework and affairs related to China, the US, and India, as well as
public figures from these countries more regularly than other aspects of climate debate.
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Science and climate activism yet remain rather abstract and general.
!
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Penguin.
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Haven: Yale University Press.
Doran P.T. & Zimmerman, M.K. (2009) Examining the Scientific Consensus on Climate Change.
Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 90 (3).
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Research, 2 (1).
Gatrell, V. (2006) City of Laughter: Sex and Satire in XVIII-century London. London: Atlantic.
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Appendix
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Mexico
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Title: Climate change
Author: Qucho Monero
Source: El Informador
Translation:
[Caption]: “The coming of the Child”
[Inscriptions]: Left—“Before”; right—
“Now”
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Canada
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Garnotte
Source: Le Devoir
Translation:
[Streamer]: “Save the planet!”
[Poster]: “Conference on climate change //
Paris — 2015 // Inscription of new species
menaced by climate change”
[Justin Trudeau]: “I would like to inscribe
«Conservatus Harperis»…”
[Lady with a pen]: “…And you say that
this is a species of the Albertan Dinosaur?”
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Garnotte
Source: Le Devoir
[Caption]: “What would then Trudeau,
Coderre and Couillard do together in Paris?”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Garnotte
Source: Le Devoir
Translation:
[Caption]: “A certain realization seems to
settle in the Paris Conference…”
[Scientist]: “…With the warming climate,
more little islands will vanish from
sight…”
[Exclamations from left to right]: “How
about the Bahamas?” “The same with
Cayman Islands?” “And the Virgin
Islands?” “And the Turks and Caicos?”
“And you, papa, don’t you have an
account in Jersey?” “Something must be
done!” “Transfer all my accounts to a bank
of Nepal!”
Title: Government leaders in Paris prepare
for the momentous decisions ahead
Author: Gary Clement
Source: National Post
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Title: Well, at least we’re second best
Author: Gary Clement
Source: National Post
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Brian Gable
Source: The Globe and Mail
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Brian Gable
Source: The Globe and Mail
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Brian Gable
Source: The Globe and Mail
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India
Title: “Global warming”
Author: Ajit Ninan and Jug Suraiya
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Climate talks and India
Author: Ajit Ninan and Jug Suraiya
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Climate conference
Author: Ajit Ninan and Jug Suraiya
Source: The Times of India
!
Title: India at the World Environment
Summit
Author: Sandeep Adhwaryu
Source: The Times of India
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Title: India vs. Bharat
Author: Sandeep Adhwaryu
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Paris Climate Change 2015
Author: Ajit Ninan and Jug Suraiya
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Climate change
Author: Partho Sengupta and Jug Suraiya
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Climate change
Author: Sandeep Adhwaryu
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Islamic State and India
Author: Ajit Ninan and Jug Suraiya
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Global warming
Author: Sunil Agarwal and Ajit Ninan
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Just like that. Climate change in
India's Parliament
Author: Ajit Ninan and Jug Suraiya
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Just like that. Chennai floods
Author: Ajit Ninan
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Just like that. Conference on
carbon emissions
Author: Ajit Ninan and Jug Suraiya
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Just like that. Paris climate talks
Author: Ajit Ninan
Source: The Times of India
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Title: Just like that. Pollution level
Author: Ajit Ninan
Source: The Times of India
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The US
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Title: The emerging economy could
pose many demands on developed
countries before agreeing to a deal
Author: Heng
Source: The New York Times
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Title: Do what I say, not what I do
Author: Patrick Chappatte
Source: The New York Times
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Title: Paris weather forecast.
Winds expected
Author: Patrick Chappatte
Source: The New York Times
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Title: Someday, people may
provide a new energy source
Author: Patrick Chappatte
Source: The New York Times
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Title: And now it’s decision time on
Climate
Author: Tom Toles
Source: The Washington Post
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Title: GOP is gaming out the pluses and
minuses for acting on climate change
Author: Tom Toles
Source: The Washington Post
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!
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Title: Mitch McConnell is the Grinch
who saved Christmas
Author: Tom Toles
Source: The Washington Post
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Title: Republicans are holding
their ground in the raging climate
change debate
Author: Tom Toles
Source: The Washington Post
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Title: Republicans face another
challenge on climate change
Author: Tom Toles
Source: The Washington Post
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!
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Title: Republicans face another
challenge on climate change
Author: Tom Toles
Source: The Washington Post
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Title: The climate change denier’s fry-up
Author: Ann Telnaes
Source: The Washington Post
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China
Title: Save the Earth
Author: Li Min
Source: China Daily
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Title: Terrorism and climate change
Author: Luo Jie
Source: China Daily
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Title: Degrees of wrangling
Author: Liu Rui
Source: Global Times
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Title: Back from the brink
Author: Shen Lan
Source: Global Times
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The EU
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Austria
Title: Alternative energy
Author: [Not mentioned]
Source: Kurier
Translation:
[Poster]: “World climate
summit // Paris 2015”
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Title: Silly reindeers
Author: [Not mentioned]
Source: Kurier
Translation:
[Reindeers]: “We need more
horse power…”
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Title: Classic climate change
conference joke
Author: [Not mentioned]
Source: Kurier
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Title: Climate change skeptic
reserves right
Author: [Not mentioned]
Source: Kurier
Translation:
[Astronaut]: “Ha! Tell me there’s
no planet B.”
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Belgium
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Canary Pete
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Caption]: “Targets 1 and 2 will remain
open for 10 more years”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Canary Pete
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Caption]: “Activists at the climate
summit”
[Bear]: “Maybe climate will also get
some attention!”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Canary Pete
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Caption]: “The climate conference
starts”
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!
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Canary Pete
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Caption]: “Ministers on their way to
climate summit”
[Lady]: “How close to the white line?!”
[Road traffic controller]: “Now we
drive extreme right in France.”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Canary Pete
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Caption]: “There is a climate agreement.”
[Bear]: “A jump of joy, idiot!!!”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Klier
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Signboard]: “Climate change”
[Billboard]: “Because you know that
politicians are making the same old
fuss // Frozly’s air-conditioning”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Klier
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Caption]: “Participants of the
climate talks want to keep global
warming below 2 degrees”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Quirit
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Caption]: “Climate rally in 2100”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Quirit
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Caption]: “Paris: Let them out
only when there is a climate
agreement”
[Responses from left to right]: “I
agree.” “Me too.” “Me too.”
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!
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Quirit
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Caption]: “Quick wins on climate
salon”
[Military servant]: “This allows to
halve the CO2-emissions of a coal
plant.”
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!
!
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Quirit
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Caption]: “We want to achieve
the climate goals…”
[Person]: “Therefore every
Belgian must walk around.”
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!
!
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Quirit
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
Translation:
[Caption]: “China promises to do
something about the smog”
[Chinese speaker]: “We will
destroy all our fossil fuels!”
[Journalist]: “How?”
[Chinese speaker]: “Incinerate.”
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Bulgaria
Title: How to keep—together or separately?
Author: Malkiyat Ivancho
Source: 24 Chasa
Translation:
[Caption]: “Alternation of the Cold War and Global
Warming badly affects the health of humanity.”
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Denmark
Title: Future climate refugees must be
stopped today
Author: Roald Als
Source: Politiken
Translation:
[Person]: “Turn back!”
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Title: Torrential climate change
Author: Anne-Marie Steen Petersen
Source: Politiken
Translation:
[Caption]: “While the world deals with
climate change in Paris, the EU is busy
sending bombers to Middle East.”
[Woman]: “No, it wasn’t a thunder.”
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Title: Climate goals
slaughtered one by one
Author: Per Marquard Otzen
Source: Politiken
Translation:
[Caption]: “To Don Quixote’s
pleasant surprise, Sancho
Panza successfully and singlehandedly kills the wind
turbines.”
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Title: Løkke’s climate talk in
Paris was piping hot air
Author: Per Marquard Otzen
Source: Politiken
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Finland
Title: COP21
Author: Wumo
Source: Helsingin Sanomat
Translation:
[Signboard]: “COP21 Paris climate conference”
[Man]: “But you told me to bring green movie celebrities!”
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France
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Coco
Source: Charlie Hebdo
Translation:
[Caption]: “The dark side of France // Soon in six
regions!”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Coco
Source: Charlie Hebdo
Translation:
[Caption]: “Climate: China is ready to make the efforts?”
[Collective response]: “My ass!”
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!
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Riss
Source: Charlie Hebdo
Translation:
[Caption]: “The police makes a gesture to save the
planet”
[Descriptions from top to down]: “Bamboo baton”
“Coconut casque” “Recyclable demonstrator”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Coco
Source: Charlie Hebdo
Translation:
[Caption]: “COP21: Begins good”
[Responses]: “How many already?” “150.”
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Germany
Title: If Paris fails
Author: Klaus Stuttmann
Source: Tagesspiegel
Translation:
[Caption]: “If Paris fails”
[Man]: “We finally need limits!!”
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Title: Planet’s head gets hot.
Will we help it to cool it?
Author: Klaus Stuttmann
Source: Tagesspiegel
Translation:
[Planet]: “Really? They discuss
in Paris just how you could
tinker a lifeline for me? That's
fantastic!!”
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Ireland
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Martyn Turner
Source: The Irish Times
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!
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Martyn Turner
Source: The Irish Times
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!
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Martyn Turner
Source: The Irish Times
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The Netherlands
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Len
Source: Trouw
Translation:
ABP—Algemeen Burgerlijk
Pensioenfonds (“Dutch Civil
Servants Pension Fund”)
!
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Len
Source: Trouw
Translation:
[Announcement]: “CO2 reduction
now!”
[Men]: “First talk!”
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Portugal
“An astronaut plans to take into space… ...the text of the future agreement on climate change.” “Why take it into
space?” “With the lack of what it does here on Earth…”
“Do you think you can save the planet?” “It depends.” “It depends?” “Of course, it depends on the planet. Shouldn’t
I say what is this?!”
“Barack Obama at the climate conference wants decisions… …future generations would be proud of.” “Always
optimistic, this Obama. Believe future generations…”
“Pope Francis urged more than 150 world leaders at the climate summit... ...to focus their efforts on «mitigation of
the impact of climate change, fight against poverty and for promotion of human dignity.» What are you going to
do? The man urges to believe in miracles.”
“The Summit on Climate Change came to an end... ...No consistent results.” “There is hope that there will be the
next summit!”
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Luis Afonso
Source: Público
Slovenia
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Marko
Source: Delo
Translation:
[Paper plane]: “Climate agreement”
[Pipe]: “Slovenian energetics”
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Spain
Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: El Roto
Source: El País
Translation:
[Caption]: “To combat rising temperature, we
will look at the thermometers downwards”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Forges
Source: El País
Translation:
[Caption]: “Suspecting breach on behalf of China,
the agreements was made at the UN climate
summit in Paris,…
…after the oriental delegation bestowed this
curious cat on the remaining participants.”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Forges
Source: El País
Translation:
[Caption]: “What to do in a long «bridge»…?
Skip a railman-denier”
[Dialogue]: “Repeat if you dare, populistic
heretic!” “Climate change” “Ag!”
[Footnote framed in yellow]: “…But don’t forget
about the refugees”
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Title: Paris, climate summit 2015…
Author: Forges
Source: El País
Translation:
[Caption]: “Paris, at the Climate Summit
2015…
…Urgently sent today from Beijing, with
trenchant instructions, a plenipotentiary arrived
at the decisive meeting, very determined,
despite chronic bronchitis pollution.”
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Title: [Not mentioned]
Author: Forges
Source: El País
Translation:
[Caption]: “The action of this joke takes
place in the Atapuerca in early XXIV
century…
…after the climate change disaster”
[Dialogue]: “And what is this?” “I don't
know; but since it smells of hamburgers,
must be the XXI century.”
[Footnote framed in yellow]: “…But don’t
forget about the refugees”
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The UK
Title: On the Paris climate talks
Author: Ben Jennings
Source: The Guardian
!
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Title: On Volkswagen
Author: Kipper Williams
Source: The Guardian
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